The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week but doesn’t specify an optimal pattern. New research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that “weekend warriors” may realize the same cardiovascular health benefits as those who work out multiple times a week. A weekend warrior fits a week’s worth of exercise into a couple of days.
The study found that working out at least 150 minutes each week can help cut one’s risk of stroke, heart attack and atrial fibrillation (also known as AFib)—and those minutes can be split equally across the week or concentrated into the weekend. As long as you’re hitting 150 minutes, you can reap cardiovascular benefits. The weekend warrior schedule could be an option if you’re short on time during the week. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.
Header photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash